Recording your child’s attendance

Schools must take an attendance register twice a day, which is a legal document that is kept for five years. Any absences will be recorded with a specific code depending on the type of absence. Absences fall into two main categories:

authorised – those which schools can give you permission for

unauthorised – those which they will not.

Examples of absences which the school is unlikely to authorise can include:

sickness of a parent, or other family member

inadequate clothing for school

child being used as a carer

problems with transport

non-urgent medical treatment

school refusal or truancy

days off for birthdays, shopping trips

family holiday since new regulations came in September 2013.

If your child needs a leave of absence you must ask for permission in advance. The headteacher can only approve the absence if he/she views them to be exceptional reasons. The headteacher also decides on the number of days to authorise or unauthorise. You can request a leave of absence form from your school.